ayen

Can someone please tell me what's good about canister filter?
I'm getting another 55g, I want to know if I should go with a XP1 or a power filter?
Any comment and suggestion would be appreciated.

Wolfgang8810

im poretty sure that canisters have more placed for beneficial bacteria to grow and also the output isnt right over the intake so it is more efficient

ayen

Thanks for sharing, Wolfgang.
At one of the LFS, the sales told me that canister filter is better for plant because it doesn't push out the CO2, it makes sense to me.
I have never used canister, can you tell me if it would generate more current than power filter?

Wolfgang8810

hmm its tough to say. They generaly have a spray bar which is a plastic tube with a row of holes in it where the water is shot back into the tank so i think it would definatly create more surface agitation which im not sure is good for co2 retention.

jsalemi

Canister filters also have more overall filtering capacity for their size than power filters. Unless you want to run multiple power filters, if you have a tank over 75g you'd probably want to use a canister filter.

armadillo

Here's what I love about them:

• they're extremely reliable (the ones we bought, anyways, have this really long guarantee, and teh seal of approval of the more experienced aquarists)
• they're very strong on mechanical filtration because they can be bigger than internal filters
• they're very strong on biological filtration (same reason as above: they're bigger, so more surface area for biolobical filter material)
• they leave more swimming space for the fish

But one thing though. If you're going to invest in a canister filter, I'd go all the way and buy Eheim. They have really long garantees, and even 40 years later, you can buy replacement parts separately. They're really good at keeping these available.

ayen

Um...my new tank is just gonna be 55g, sounds like it falls in between a good power filter and a good canister filter.
My husband and I really are interested in a canister because we've never used one LOL
So...I guess it's time to explore the new world! CANISTER WOW~!
But, Amardillo, which series of Eheim would you suggest?
Classic or ECCO?

armadillo

ooooh, you've really done your research! Hang on, let me check whether it says so on the filter itself.

armadillo

OK, just checked. We've got an ECCO and a couple of Professional. We use our ECCO for a 12G, and our Professional for 29G. They had a 1/2 price sale on, though, that's why we figured we might as well upgrade. So I don't know if you guys really need to splash out on a Professional.

One thing you'll absolutely need to check is that they are self-priming (the more modern Professionals and ECCO are, but the older models are not - it will say so on the box). One of ours is not and it's a huge pain to start up during maintenance.

ayen

Yes! ^0^ I'm really getting more and more about fish keeping! Thanks to Fishlore motivates me to get deeper in this hobby~I've learned a lot from all the helper here. *3* Love ya all~

Get back to where we were, I just checked the price for the Pro, and founded that I am definitely not that PRO LOL.
Also checked the ECCO from DFS is the new model, self-priming.
OK, here is one thing that confusing me, ECCO has 3 models:

Model 2232, up to 35 gallons, 127 Per Hour
Model 2234, up to 60 gallons, 145 Per Hour
Model 2236, up to 80 gallons, 185 Per Hour

I've read that we should look at the Per Hour instead of the recommended tank size.
In my case, my tank is 55g, it should be around 165-275(if I'm correct.) and I'm gonna keep Angelfish and plants in there. Do you think the 185 one is kinda not enough?
what do you think?

armadillo

Hi Ayen.

You and me both. Fishlore gives me more confidence to explore new set-ups/species as I know someone will have tried it here before.

On the filters: that's what I would do too (look at revolutions/hour and only then at total gallons).

That would mean you need one that can churn 2x 55G per hour which is the 2232 (i.e. 110G/hr). But the 2232 is only up to 35G, so that means you'd need to go one up to the 2234.

ayen

Thanks Armadillo, you solved all my problems
I'm gonna order the 2234~

armadillo

Welcome!

P.S. If you're anything like me, you'll need your husband to set it up, LOL. At least I had enormous difficulties with the Pro one, and I asked him to do it for me in the end. I have to say the ECCO one was waaaaay easier to set-up!

ayen

OH! Forgot to ask you about the ECCO media basket!
DFS didn't say how big the basket is nor how many basket in each model, can you please tell me?

armadillo

Am not sure which ECCO I have. Hang on. Let me get the papers.

armadillo

OK, I've just checked. I have the 2232 for my 12G. That one only has 2 baskets. I used my own gravel for biological filtration. The 2234 seems to have 3 baskets according to my documentation.

Am not sure I understand the question about how big the basket is. As in, volume-wise? Or diameter?

ayen

Let me refine that, I would like to know what kind of medias do you use, and how many box/bag/ml./grams of that medias did you buy in order fill up the basket.
Since I have no experience with additional medias, I would like to take your suggestion of what medias I should get for my 55g tank in this 2234 ECCO.

armadillo

Oh I see. If I remember well, some biological filter media was provided with the pumps, but I guess you'd need to check at the shop when you buy it and buy the extra there and then if required. Ooooh, unless you're buying on-line?

What I did was to basically fill both baskets with established gravel. Probably 6 fistfuls of gravel per basket? (sorry about the very imprecise unit of measure, lol).

Basically, you receive some (not much) biological filtration medium with the filter, and you're also provided with a foam pad per basket + a spare carbon filter pad. But I'd really top up the biological filtration with your own gravel.